Pepper began to yelp with excitement as soon as I picked up her leash. She assumed we must be going to the dog park. After all, it was the right time of day for chasing tennis balls. Although, in her mind, there is no wrong time. Daily doses of painkillers…

Are the noise makers, or so I was told. — My primary school teacher used to tell the class, ‘empty vessels make the most noise.’ I was never sure what that meant. Miss Flood viewed questions from a five-year-old pupil as a challenge to her authority and a slight on her teaching ability. So, it was one of many things…

But, not today. — I’m going to grow old. Apparently. But not until the signs and symptoms of aging become overwhelming and impossible to deny. Until then, ‘old’ will be reserved for people older than me, even if only by a day. I’ve always had an off-kilter idea about aging. In high school, someone…

Since I retired from working, people keep asking me, ‘What do you do all day?’ No matter my answer, they tend to say, ‘Hmmm, OK.’ Of course, as the conversation precedes, it becomes obvious they think I’m just treading water. Not doing anything worthwhile with my life. And, perhaps they…

While I was hiding from COVID, I spent a lot of time writing. Usually with a fountain pen. I bought a couple of fountain pens during the first month of ‘sheltering-in-place. I felt this past year — more than any other year — was worth memorializing in ink on nice…

Recently, I had a thought. And that thought turned into the following words, “perhaps we should go out for dinner earlier, you know, before the restaurant gets busy and the service slows.” Was this is the start of a transition into being old and knowing which restaurants do the best…

During the past week, I binge watched two series of Everest: Beyond the limit and listened to the audiobook of ‘Into thin air’ by John Krakauer. I highly recommended both, even if you have no interest in climbing mountains or stupid stuff like that. …

A few years ago, I had a kidney stone. It started — or at least the pain started — while I was running on a treadmill at the gym. I assumed I pulled a muscle putting on my running shoes. It can happen! But, something didn’t feel right. So, I…

I know someone currently struggling with addiction. While desperate to be sober, my friend has been reluctant to go to ‘anonymous’ meetings. As an life-long athiest, they don’t agree with steps that involve turning their ‘life and will over to the care of God’. This was a disappointment to my…